It was another peaceful day in Hoshikawa Town. Crime rate was lower than it's ever been, population has been steady with many of its inhabitants at peace, and business has been booming.
It was a small city located in Northwest Tokyo, famously known for its great Wagyu beef and high-grade Sake. Many would kill just to have a taste of them both, but that's not all; it also costs a fortune just to live here.
Usually, only successful business owners and lawyers stayed around these parts. The homeless were rare and the streets were clean. Not even the lazy would dare litter in any part of this town.
Needless to say—it was a paradise—until you ran into the infamous street gang known as Moon Scar.
"Who do you think you are, little punk? You're in our territory, ya hear?!"
Surrounding an elementary schooler, and wearing leather jackets, were five teenagers who appeared to be in middle school.
One of them was holding a backpack high in the air, hanging it above the poor child's head.
"Hey, stop it! Give it back, Masato! That's mine!"
The elementary schooler, with short black hair, and suited in glasses and his school uniform, reached for his stuff in vain. Even jumping up and down to no avail.
"Didn't we tell you already, you little brat? This area belongs to the Moon Scar!" Said one of the gang members, shoving the child down.
"Ow!" He fell on his hands and knees as his glasses slipped off his face.
"Listen up, Kenji, I'm only gonna say this once." Lowering the backpack in his hand, and walking forward was Masato. "Stay out of Moon Scar territory or we'll throw you in a dumpster next time... or better yet..." A sinister smile crossed his face. "I'll get my dad to expel you from Hoshikawa High School."
Kenji, who was looking for his glasses with blurry vision, snapped his head upwards in fear and widened his eyes.
"N-No! Please, Masato, I'll do whatever you say, just don't tell Chairman Tatsumo!"
Kenji shrank back in fear until a warm, wet feeling trailed down his legs.
All five gang members looked down before bursting out into laughter.
"Pfff... Bwa ha ha! Yo, guys, look at this! Kenji is pissing himself!"
Each one took a step back, cackling at the poor child as his face turned red in embarrassment.
"You're pathetic, Kenji Saito." Masato dropped his backpack right in his piss before shaking his hand off as if he touched human waste. "Get your stuff and get the hell out of here."
"Masato Kisaragi!"
A voice suddenly breached the atmosphere from afar as each gang member turned around to see a little girl standing with her hands on her hips, and a big frown on her face.
"Shit, it's Emi!" One of them said with wide eyes.
"That damn brat! Why is she always showing up at times like these?" Said Masato, furrowing his brows.
"Let's book it."
The gang scattered almost instantly as their laughter cut off into panic sprints as they bolted down the alleyways that branched off the street.
"Oi, don't run from her, idiots!" Masato shouted, though his own feet were already moving. He glanced back once before clicking his tongue in annoyance. "Tch. This isn't over, Emi!"
Within seconds, Moon Scar was gone, leaving behind nothing but their hurried footsteps as silence returned to the street.
Emi exhaled slowly as her shoulders dropped down low, feeling the tension leave her small frame.
She looked like your average young girl, with long blonde hair, a pink star-shaped hairpin in her hair, a backpack, and a sailor uniform with thigh-high socks, and white loafers.
Jogging toward Kenji, she could see the puddle beneath him, gasping at such a horrid sight.
"...Kenji, are you okay?"
Kenji was still frozen on the ground, clenching his hands into the fabric of his uniform. His face was burning red with glassy eyes as he stared at the spot where the gang had been.
"Emi, what are you doing here?" He asked as tears poured down his cheek.
Emi knelt down in front of him without hesitation, careful not to step in the puddle.
"I always come this way! It's the shortest route home."
She gently picked up his glasses from the pavement, wiping the lenses on her sleeve before handing them back.
"Here. Luckily those jerks didn't step on it."
"Ah... t-thank you!"
Kenji took them with trembling hands before sliding them onto his face. His vision sharpened—and with it—the reality of what had just happened.
He couldn't help but quiver in his lower lip.
"I-I'm sorry for getting you involved with my problems, Emi." He muttered as more tears welled up in his eyes. "I couldn't do anything... I'm so weak..."
Emi frowned at his comment, not angry at him, but rather frustrated about the situation.
"That's not true, Kenji, and you know it!" She said firmly. "They're just middle schoolers!" She said, standing up and expanding her arms as if talking about Godzilla. "They're big and mean, and super strong!"
Kenji glanced at her before wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt, nodding his head.
"Y-You're right..."
Emi placed her hands on her hips, grinning.
"Of course I'm right! Every kid knows it in Hoshikawa! Ehehe."
"...But why are they so afraid of you?" He asked, sniffling through his nose.
"Hmm?" Emi tilted her head to the side, letting her blonde hair dangle before she answered. "That's because I can scream and cry super loud to alert the grown-ups!"
Kenji couldn't help but widen his eyes.
"I-Is that seriously why they're afraid of you?"
"Mhm!" She nodded proudly. "Papa always told me to scream super duper loud if I'm in trouble!" She lifted a finger, teaching him a lesson. "That goes for all kids! We should always scream and yell for the grown-ups whenever we get ourselves caught in bad situations with other people!"
"Mmm..." Kenji slowly nodded his head as his tears started drying up. "That is true, I guess."
"Now, c'mon Kenji, let's get you up from the ground!"
She offered her hand as Kenji hesitated, then took it. Emi pulled him to his feet with more strength than her size suggested.
"People like Masato only act tough because they think they own everything." She said with a pouty, angry face. "Just because his dad owns Hoshikawa school doesn't mean they get to pick on kids!"
Kenji nodded again, gripping the strap of his backpack tightly.
"...Y-You're right, Emi, but his father is Chairman Tatsumo. If we get on Kenji's bad side, he can ask him to expel any student he wants!" Responded Kenji.
Emi furrowed her brows, giving off a little grunt.
"Hmph. Even if it's Chairman Tatsumo, my Dad's a really good lawyer!" She said, now crossing her arms. "If he does anything to expel you, he'll have to face my dad in court!"
Kenji became quiet as Emi stared at him with a serious expression, until she knelt down to pick up his backpack.
"...Oh hey, your backpack. It's still kinda wet."
"S-S-Sorry!" Kenji blurted out, mortified all over again.
"It's okay!" Emi waved her other hand quickly. "You can just wash it when you get home. Or tell your mom it got splashed by a puddle or something!"
Kenji let out a small, shaky laugh.
"Yeah... a puddle."
Kenji took his backpack from her hand as he held the strap to let it dangle.
"You should head home now, Kenji, just take the long way, okay? They won't come back for a while, but still, it's safer that way!"
Kenji hesitated to move as he lifted his brows.
"What about you, Emi?"
"I'll be fine!" She said cheerfully. "I live super duper close."
That was a lie—but Kenji didn't need to know that.
"Oh, okay, thank you, Emi." He said quietly, bowing his head. "Really! You're always sticking your neck out for me!"
She blinked, then scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed.
"Ehehe... it's nothing!"
Kenji adjusted his glasses one last time before turning and jogging down the street.
"See ya at school tomorrow!" He waved from behind.
"Okay, Kenji! Be safe!" She waved back as her other hand held onto her backpack strap.
Emi watched him jog away until he disappeared around the corner, now leaving her alone.
With a joyful smile, Emi walked straight ahead and headed to her residence, a few city blocks away.
"I wonder if Dad's making my favorite today! I'm super hungry, and I don't like the cafeteria food. It's yucky."
She stuck out her tongue, giving a little 'bleh' as she reminded herself. Though amidst the quiet streets of Hoshikawa Town, something was lurking in the darkness, watching.
It observed everything unfold in the alleyway, glaring at the young girl as she made her way home.
But Emi was unaware of its presence—as was everyone else.